Any NBA fan has seen highlights of Kobe Bryant taking over a game. The five-time NBA champion scored 81 points in a single game once, and he has scored 50 or more in a game 25 times in his career. But have you ever seen Kobe dominate in high school? We have you covered.
In 1995, Kobe put Lower Merion High School on his back during a state tournament game against Norristown. Bryant, who wore No. 33 as a teenager, knocked down three 3-pointers in the third quarter and rallied his team back to tie the game heading into the fourth. He then completely took over.
Kobe hit shots from inside the paint and beyond the arc en route to 18 points in the fourth quarter alone. He finished with 35 points (just 6 in the first half) and 12 rebounds to send Lower Merion to the semifinals.
“We came out in the second half and were like, ‘This is our half. We’re not gonna lose this,'” a young Kobe said after the win. “I sort of felt a personal challenge because I’ve been putting a lot of pressure on myself … There was no way I was going down without a fight. I put my best on the floor.”
Different year, same Kobe.
